6th Annual Where Bloggers Create ~ Welcome to my Studio ~

My sweet sewing studio...how I've missed you!

During my recovery from wrist surgery, 

my studio became more like a storage room...

a place to stash unfinished projects, school work, and piles of junk mail.

It has been 8 months and I have just started to return to my old creative self.

My mission early this summer was to clear the clutter...tidy up the shop.

Oh, plenty of 'clutter' remains, however, it's the special family keepsakes that surround me and are my creative inspiration. Like my mother's vintage teapots, and my grandma's vintage hats.

My very first counted cross stitch project actually resembles a cat that we adopted many years later.

She was named Patsy, after one of Amy's favorite books called Patsy the Pussycat.

The two family photos bring back memories of some special family times.

In the small heart frame...a vacation spent at Lake Okoboji. 

My hubby was struggling with anxiety at that time. 

We took very few trips out of town and this weekend at the resort was good.

The other photo brings back memories of happy times.

Amy, senior year, homecoming queen, leadership awards, class rank in the top 10.

Emily, 8th grade, running varsity cross country as one of the fastest girls in the state.

Here's my trusty postal scale

and a special birthday card from our girls.

Miss Sapphire is still on center stage.

Do you remember when she first moved in?

click here

I'm still learning about all of her bells and whistles.

My old sewing machine is reserved for sewing on paper...

paper tags...paper ornaments...paper favors...

My sister-in-law knows I have an obsession for dress forms.

She found this sweet pinkeep for me for Christmas.

Speaking of dress forms...

This yellow bed jacket was a gift from my Auntie Vivian 

to my mom when she was in the hospital after I was born.  

I guess that makes it 58 years old.

If you are lucky enough to have a room to call your own,

surround yourself with things that make you smile.

 a mother's day gift from the darling daughters...

a loose powder box from my mother's vanity...

trophies from my 4-H days...

grandma's confirmation picture

too many kisses for this bear...

a friendship candle from special friends...

my daddy's lunch pail that we packed every..single..day...

my mother's chicken pinkeep...

and her sock darning basket...

this is a tatted doily that she had made for me for my birthday.

Yes, I'm happy to be back in my studio.

Thanks for stopping by.

Take care,

~Natalie

Be sure to visit Karen at My Desert Cottage

and see the fabulous studios of 

many other bloggers that have linked in...

High School Cross Country

Our youngest daughter was a cross country runner. We have some great memories following the team. She was on the Varsity squad for six year. These athletes train hard all year long. Emily would run over 300 miles, just in the summer. These athletes develop a close relationship...like a family. These pictures are from one of our home meets a few years ago. She loved to go out fast... (Jake, do you recognize the athlete wearing red that is behind Emily?) Anyway, Emily won this race by 45 seconds. She still holds the school record for the fastest time recorded for a 3000 meter race and a 4000 meter race. This year's top runner at Central has alot of talent. Her times are within seconds of Emily's, in fact, this year's team has alot of talent...Tomorrow is the State Meet...and our girls are contenders for the State Title...

Let's Go, Eagles!